The Weeknd Brings Us Together in Denver
June 26, 2025Photos: Gerardo Federico
What happens when thousands of people from super diverse backgrounds come together to dance, sing and celebrate the joy of good music? The Weeknd concert in Denver on June 21 made us forget for a little while about all the bullshit going on with immigration and realize the human experience crosses all of us when moving, sweating and belting out the hits together.
The scorching temperatures of Denver in June broke when the sun dropped right before the first notes from The Weeknd’s much anticipated return to Empower Field on his latest and, maybe, final tour under that Moniker.
Abel Tesfaye came out to a giant landscape of a city in ruins, golden idols, a crossing stage, laser light beams, and fire explosions to fill the Broncos stadium with a powerful notice that he was here and ready to take over. So was the crowd. Couples shared seats and danced, bros posed and celebrated, and the ladies in the house took enough photos then found their moves in perfect rhythm with the 36 songs played.
Some of us went all the way back to pre-streaming 2011 when the original trilogy came out.
The different ages of the crowd got extra excited to the songs from their party era – the years they were getting extra dressed up with The Weeknd soundtracking the pre- and post-parties. Those nights when you go out and all out to celebrate with that cute crush, the ones you met at the bar or barbecue, and the parties that you’ll never forget. And these are the songs that you tie to those memories. People felt that extra energy of kissing a date or a pick up. And maybe many of them remember those nights of getting extra high off something – vibes, booze, drugs, dancing – they all came busting up as they let it out on this celebratory Saturday night. Singing together about fucking a star, a lover, maybe a life up.
Some of us went all the way back to pre-streaming 2011 when the original trilogy came out. Others found the pop songs and the latest trilogy for the youngest. But we all were together that night.
Denver gets a rap that is basic and homogenized, but on this night off Federal Blvd. The Weeknd dropped the sweetest dance songs, beat after beat. But different than the EDM and bass crowd, these tracks led to seductive moves from folks of all kinds of backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages. The international feel of the crowd of latinos, african, asian, and other concert goers led the moves of the night as people held each other close with huge smiles.
With all the shit going down, it was great to see a true assembly of those who could be targeted letting the world know we are going to be heard, as we stand up and join together.
